December has inaugurated a cold snap in the Bay Area, perfect to stay inside for a spell and play some games. Similarly, the new month has ushered in the second trimester at school, which means that Board Game Club gets underway this week. Nine students are enrolled in the after school class: six second graders (five of whom are in my class), two third graders from the room next door, and one seventh grader who I really hope decides to stick it out with all the youngins,' per

Marco Salogni’s print-and-play adventure Gun Trail offers a true taste of the Western. As bounty hunter “Scrooge” Masterson, players explore five maze-like maps as they chase the villainous Gatling Gang and engage in high noon shootouts.

This week, sign ups went out for Winter enrichment classes: crunch time to see if there is enough interest for the club to launch. I only need 7 students to sign up, but there's a lot of competition for students' attention.

In Scott Almes’ The Last Lighthouse, an 18-card solo game from Button Shy, players defend a lonely beacon against encroaching nightmares. This review explores how a minimalist design captures the tension, isolation, and fragile sanity of lighthouse keeping.

A scope and sequence for the first few weeks of the club, including weekly topics, discussion and reflection prompts, and some ideas for games.